Latest News from ICSA Chartered Secretary Magazine
Company secretarial market steady, says employment survey
The company secretarial marketplace has bounced back since the beginning of the year and is now holding steady, according to a new survey.SEC opens proxy nominations
Long-term shareholders will have the right to include a nominee on a companys proxy materials under changes to the US securities laws.Review could undermine NEST proposals, says TUC
The Trades Union Congress has warned that the coalition Governments plans to review the workplace pension scheme could undermine the existing consensus.Warning as boiler room scams resurface
There have been a spate of reports that shareholders of FTSE 100 companies have been approached by boiler room fraudsters.Carbon reduction deadline looms
Companies have just a month left to register for the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme.FSA alters listing rules on document viewing
The Financial Services Authority has made changes to the listing rules that govern submission of documents.Engagement improves financial performance, says report
A report from a US pension fund says that engaging with investee companies improves financial performance.FRRP criticises capital management reporting
The watchdog has criticised companies for not properly disclosing some financial measures.Zurich fined 2 million for data loss
The UK branch Zurich Insurance has been fined almost £2.3 million for losing the data of 46,000 customers.ABI seeks cross-border voting changes
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has suggested that securities intermediaries should be obliged to help identify ultimate shareholders.Audit Commission scrapped
The Audit Commission, the independent body charged with auditing the finances of local public services, is to be abolished.Charity Commission delays door-to-door licensing
The Charity Commission will not take on the role of licensor for face-to-face fundraising in the near future, a minister has said.Equal pay for women in 2067
New research shows that female managers will have to wait until 2067 to be paid the same as their male counterparts.NHS consultant bonuses under scrutiny
The bonuses paid to NHS consultants are to be reviewed and brought into line with other public sector pay schemes.Irish charity law delayed over discrepancy
The implementation of the Northern Irish Charities Act is being delayed because of a potential discrepancy in the legislation.nzherald.co.nz - Business
NZ shares ease after Wall Street slides
The New Zealand sharemarket snapped a five-day run higher today when global stock markets eased on renewed fears about the strength of European banks.The benchmark NZX-50 index closed down 12.963 points, or 0.408 per cent, at...NZ dollar drifts lower in quiet trade
The New Zealand dollar eased slightly today as equity markets weakened on renewed fears about the strength of European banks.By 5pm, the NZ dollar was buying US71.70c from US71.94c at 8am and US72.32c at 5pm yesterday. It fell...Contact Energy joins GST price push
Contact Energy is the latest power company to signal it will increase its prices when GST rises on October 1.The Government is increasing GST to 15 per cent, from 12.5 per cent, at the same time as cutting personal tax rates.Prime...Opposition parties want inquiry into SCF
Opposition parties are demanding full disclosure of South Canterbury Finance's (SCF) situation before it went into receivership and a parliamentary inquiry into the way the Government handled the crisis.In Parliament today Finance...Earthquake rebuild will happen - but it may not be quick
Saturday's Christchurch earthquake may provide a kick-start for a depressed construction sector, but it will be months or even years before homeowners see the results.Industry leaders spoken to said they were confident they had...Property values in gradual decline: QV
Property values have continued to decline gradually over the past few months as market sentiment remains cautious, according to the August report by QV.Property values have dropped 1.1 since March this year, after rising 4.3 per...PM: Consents for rebuild may be given retrospectively
The Government may rush legislation through to enable rebuilding work to be carried out in the wake of Canterbury's earthquake, with building consents given in retrospect.Prime Minister John Key, who took a tour of the damage...Quake already hitting Canterbury retail economy
Canterbury businesses are doing a third less trade than the same time last year in the wake of the massive earthquake on Saturday, Paymark figures show.Electronics payment provider Paymark said total spending across its network...NZ shares open down
The New Zealand sharemarket ended its five-day stretch of gains, opening low as concern over the European financial sector resurfaced in overseas markets.Since closing at 3036.10 last Tuesday, the sharemarket pumped up 138 points...Vodafone sells China Mobile stake for $9.2bn
LONDON - British mobile phone giant Vodafone has announced the sale of its 3.2 per cent stake in China Mobile for around £4.3billion (NZ$9.2bn).The sale is the first in what is expected to be a series of sell-offs of Vodafone's...Dwindling OCR hike prospects stokes bonds interest
Dwindling prospects for further interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank this year may stoke interest in corporate bonds as investors seek certainty of income.Economists have pared back their expectations for central bank Governor...Mark Irving: National stereotypes looking tired
I saw this advertisement headline recently in a magazine called Filmfair India:"I was mesmerised as if he cast a spell on me. I was enjoying obeying his orders. I was a slave by choice."This ad for chocolate flavoured condoms...Earthquake to push up reinsurance costs: Fitch
The 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday will probably push up Australian insurers' reinsurance costs, according to Fitch Ratings.The rating agency said it expects Insurance Australia Group will need extra cover,...Natural Dairy shelves $1.5b expansion plan
The Hong Kong company hoping to buy 16 Crafar farms has shelved its ambitious plans to spend up to $1.5 billion setting up a dairy business in New Zealand - for now.Natural Dairy has announced that it has terminated its agreement...Easter trading bill pulled from debate
National MP Jacqui Dean is re-jigging her bill to extend Easter trading because it did not have the numbers to pass in its current form.Dean's member's bill, the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal (Waitaki Easter Trading) Amendment...Brian Rudman : An inconvenient truth needs to be faced
You could hardly call Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson a soft-centred pinko on matters to do with race relations.He sided with the red-necks of Whanganui, in refusing Maori pleas to restore the letter "h" to its rightful...World equities hammered overnight
Equities got hammered once again amid reports that the European banking system might not be as strong as investors had been led to believe in the wake of stress tests earlier this year.In late trading, the Dow Jones Industrial...Port serves Solid Energy with notice
Lyttelton Port of Christchurch has served its major customer Solid Energy with a force majeure notice.The port, which has been affected by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake and a succession of severe aftershocks, said the move was...Christchurch earthquake: Industrial giants take stock of task ahead
Two of New Zealand's largest industrial companies are examining the effects of the earthquake disaster on their businesses.Fletcher Building executives have met at Penrose and staff at Christchurch-headquartered civil contractor...Earthquake housing shortage to put pressure on Christchurch rentals
Real Estate industry insiders are picking a short-term strain on rental accommodation in Christchurch as people forced to leave their earthquake-damaged homes seek new places to live.Real Estate Institute acting chief executive...